Fast approaching

Wow, my big race of the season is a mere 15 days away.  Amazing how time flies.

This round of preparations for the 140.6 mile day has been waaaay different than last time.  I'm not sure if it's because I know what to expect on race day, or that my life situation is just in a totally different place...maybe it's the combination of both those things.  Whatever it is, I'm feeling on track. My body is tired with bouts of sore here and there after certain workouts.  But it's a GOOD tired and a GOOD sore - right where I should be.

I'm officially tapering.  I peaked at 20 hours last week and will slowly decrease my total training hours right up until race week.  Taper affects everyone differently.  I don't recall how I was affected last time....I guess that's the beauty of living alone.  My dogs loved taper, because that meant I got to spend more time with them at home.  This year I'll be around others during my taper, so I guess I'll quickly learn if my attitude turns south or I become annoyingly hyper.

I spent some time recently looking back at my race results from Cozumel '09 and reading (and re-reading) my race report.  Man, I feel like I learned so much that day.  Not to mention a more recent schooling in sun management down in Galveston.  All of this learning, and training, and preparing, and planning.....I think I've hit a point where I'm no longer willing to deal with drama.  Simplify. Simplify. Simplify.   Details have become overrated......why? Because the outcome just isn't worth the work of worrying.  Pick your battles, right?

I have one MAJOR goal for my race in Houston, and it all comes down to the run.  I think it has been an interesting adventure training for 140.6 as an early race, instead of having a full season of shorter races in which you are going fast fast FAST during your build/base.  I haven't been fast at all this year.....and I'm ok with that.  I know I can hang in there for the long haul - keep my HR low, keep my belly settled, keep my mind in the gutter zone.  But during taper is when I get to start dabbling in some high intensity work and I get a taste of fast.  High Z3-Z4 work on the bike.  Intervals in high Z3 on the run.  And those damn sprints in the pool!  Damn I'm loving the pool right now!  In '09 I had what I would consider a "fast season" prior to Cozumel, and that was really hard to turn off when it came to the big day - where holding back was more advantageous   Right now, I settle into my IM paces with no problem.  I'm not having to truly throttle - I just settle in naturally with little effort.  When the workout calls for more intensity I can get there with no problem, but my groove is in my IM pace.  I'm really hoping this pays off on May 21.

Bib 197